The Grove Resort & Spa in Winter Garden has added its biggest attraction yet that will keep guests cool under the hot Orlando sun.

The resort’s new Surfari Water Park, a $16 million investment for the $150 million resort, turns up the volume on water attractions to 11. The area spans seven of the resort’s 106 acres and can accommodate up to 2,400 people.

The new water area includes:

• Two 2-story water slides
• A winding lazy river
• A dual-rider Flowrider surf simulator
• A kid’s splash pad
• A zero-entry pool

In addition, the area includes the Longboards Bar & Grill, which will serve a unique menu of poolside foods.

«The Surfari Water Park is the crown jewel of our long list of resort amenities at The Grove,» said Bill Lee, general manager of the resort, in a prepared statement. «We have received tremendous response from our guests regarding all the property has to offer. With the addition of the water park, there is never a reason to leave.»

The Grove will be a 878-unit resort on the west side of Walt Disney World. The resort is in a very active area of the region that has seen an uptick in resort and attraction development, such as Disney’s Flamingo Crossing mixed-use development.

The Grove currently is working on its third phase of construction, said Kevin Mays, director of development and construction with BTI Partners, the developer of the resort. «We are building it in phases. We are now finished with two of the three phases, so at the end of the month, we will have 585 two- and three-bedroom condo units available for sale and occupancy,» he told Orlando Business Journal.

Mays said the new water park will add more value for guests and help provide another destination for visitors who don’t want to travel to the Orlando theme parks.

New additions to resorts help raise the value of stays for guests. That, in turn, results in better vacations and can encourage more return visitations for the region, which helps the overall $60 billion tourism and travel industry that draws 68 million people each year.